Foam producing attachment



Sept; 8,1953 H, PALM 2,651,546

FOAM PRODUCING ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 8, 1950 +2- Q haw 0r Patented Sept. 8, 1953 FOAM PRODUCING ATTACHMENT George H. Palm, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Illinois Chicago, Ill., a corpora- Stamping & Mfg. tion of Illinois Application September 8, 1950, Serial No. 183,742

The invention relates generally to a foam producing attachment for use on spray guns, or the like. In the past, there have been numerous types of foam producing devices of the general type here involved, but such devices, while not only being relatively complicated in construction having a relatively large number of parts, have been relatively diflicult to clean after use, as suchstructures have not been capable of ready disassembly. Obviously, in a device of this type employing foraminous discs or screens, the structure must be effectively cleaned after use to remove all of the foam producing material-employed therewith, which if allowed to remain in the discs or screens, would subsequently impair the efficiency of the device-if not rendering the same inoperative. 1 I

The present invention has therefore among its objects a foam producing attachment or nozzle which may be readily disassembled and assembled, whereby the same may be easily cleaned following use; which device is exceedingly simple in construction, having a minimum of parts, inexpensive to manufacture, durable, and very efiicient for the purposes intended. I

Another object of the invention is the production of a foam producing attachment which is so designed that it may be readily produced by automatic machinery.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or correspondingparts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of, a. device embodying the present invention and disclosing a fragmentary portion of a spray gun, or the like, on which the device is mounted;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view through the device taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3; and V 3 Claims. (01. 299-107) 2 V, V eratlve position integrally formed with the shell member, such means, however, permitting ready disassembly of the device, when desired.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral I indicates generally a cylindrical shell member having an open end 2, with the opposite end being closed by .a ,wall 3. Integrally formed with the end wall 3 and extending outwardly therefrom in axial alignment with the shell-isa hollow stem or nipple 4, the bore 5 of which communicates with the interior of the shell. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the exterior surface 6 of the stem 4 maybe tapered, whereby the stem may be inserted in the air discharge opening of a spray gun, or the like, and fricti'onally engaged with the peripheral edge" of such air opening. Fig. 1 illustrates the device mounted on the discharge end 1 of a spray gun S, only a portion of which is illustrated in the drawing. v

The shell I is provided, adjacent the open end 2, with a radially extending, internal, peripheral shoulder 8, against which is seated a plurality'of foraminous discs or screens 9 operative to produce a foam from the mixture of liquid and air entering the stem 5 and shell interior. Extending radially inwardly fromthe shell I adjacent the open end 2 thereof is a peripheral lip or shoul der II of a size to overlie peripheral portions of the outermost screen 9, as clearly illustrated'in Fig. 2, the axial distance between the inner edge or face I2 of the lip II and shoulder 8 being approximately equal to the combined thickness of the screens 8, whereby the latter are effectively retained in the position illustrated. The radial dimension of the lip or flange I I is less than the corresponding dimension of' the shoulder 8', and is primarily merely of sufiicient width to normally prevent displacement of the discs 9 from their operative positions, but is sufficiently small to -per-' mit springing 'ofthe discs 9 by the lip II during assembly or disassembly of the structure.

In assembling the device, the screens ordiscs 9 are positioned at the open end 2 of the shell adjacent the lip I I, and by exertingpressure on the center of the disc, the latter may be sprung by the lip, and to facilitate this action, the outer face of the lip I I may be bevelled slightly, as indicated at I3. Succeeding discs 9 are assembled in the same manner until the space between the edge or face I2 of the lip and the shoulder 8 is filled, such distance, of course, being dependent upon the number of screens or discs to be employed in the particular device. To disassemble the structure,

. pressure may be applied in an outward direction bled, as previously described.

It will'be noted that,'as illustrated in the embodiment of the invention disclosed, the device may be readily constructed in a minimum number of separate elements, the shell Land associated structure being formed as an integral member and a plurality of discs or'screens'.- Likewisa in 1 the embodiment illustratedfthe shell-1' may be readily constructed by automatic machinery at a minimum manufacturing cost.,i 'While% ;the 'c.on-'i struction illustrated utilizes a relativelythick an.-

approximately equal to, the combined thickness nular wall IS in the shell from which is formed the shoulder 8, and the tapered wall I 4 of the end wall- 3 connecting the interior'of theshellwith the" bore SQ'ob'V'iOusIy the proportions of the de-' vice may be varied for particular application. Havingthus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be inadejin the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood ajsliiniting {myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, 'or uses ment e o What I"claim as new and desiret-o secure by Letters Patent i'sz" v Q1 A. -foam producing nozzle iorfs'pray guns, and the likafcbmpfrising a substantially, rigid cylindrical shell open at one end to form a dischargeopeningandan end wall alt'the opposite end provided. with an opening,v a hollow stem of lesser diameter than the shell iormedwith and extending outwardly from said end wall and communicating with the shell interior through said opening, said: stembeing externally tapered, said shell having an internal shoulder formed adjacent said open end, a plurality of flexible foraminous discs-ofa size toenter the open end of the shell upon deformation of the discs andseat upon said shoulder, and a peripheral lip formed with and extending radially. inwardly. adjacent the open endcther eofl. said lip overlying portions of the outermost disc, the inner edge-of said lip being spacedaxially outward from said shoulder a distame-approximately equal to the combined thicknessofisaid discs, the radial dimension of said lip being less "than the corresponding dimension of said shoulder and of a size to normally retain said discs in operative position, but permitting the discsto be sprung into and out of engagement with the shell without distortion thereof during the insertion-and removal of the discs. v 2; A foam producing nozzle for spray guns, and the like,'comprising a hollow andsubstantially rigid "shell open atone endto form a discharge opening, a plurality of flexible: foraminous discs of-a sizeto enter said open end ofthe shell upon de'formationof thediscs', means on the interior or saidshell for retaining said discs adjacent said open end, and means adjacent the; open end of said shellextending'radially inward and overlying pdrtionsof the outermost disc, the radialdimensionof said last-mentioned means being such that said discs are normally retained in operative position and permitting the discs to besprung into engagement with the shell during the insere' tion thereof, but permitting the'discs to be'sprung 4 out of engagement with the snell without distortion thereof during the removal of the discs.

3. A foam producing nozzle for spray guns, and the like, comprising a substantially rigid cylindrical shell open at one end and an end wall at the opposite end provided with an opening, a hollow stem of lesser diameter than the shell extending-foutwardly from said wall and communicating with the shell interior through said opening, said shell having an internal shoulder adjacent said open end, a plurality of deformable foraminous-discs of a size to enter the open end of the shell upon deformation of the discs and seatupon'said shoulder, and a peripheral lip ex- 15 tendingradially inwardly adjacent the open end of said'shell' andoverlying portions of the outerm'ost disc, the inner edge of said lip being spaced axially outward from said shoulder a distance of said discs, the radial dimension of said lip being less than the corresponding dimension of said-shoulder and of a size tonormally retain said discs in "operative position, but permitting the discs to be sprung into and out of engage-- me'nt with the shell without distortion thereof during the insertionand removal of the discs,-and said lip being beveled inwardly permitting the discs to be sprung into'engagem'ent with the shell during the insertion'thereof. t

' 4. A foam producing nozzle for spray guns, and the-like, comprising a hollow shell open at one end to form a discharge opening, a deformable foraminous structure of a size to'enter the open end of the shell upon deformation thereof, means on the interior of said'she'll for limitinginward axial'movement of said foraminous structure relative to the shell, and means extending radially inwardly from said shell and overlying portions of the exterior face of the ioraminous structure, the radial dimension of said last-mentioned means being such that said foraminous structure is'normauy retained in operative position, but permitting-the latter to be mounted upon and disengaged from the shell when desired by the foraminous structure being sprung into and out of engagement with said'means extending radially inwardly. V v

"5.'A foam' producing nozzle for a spray gun adapted to discharge aspray' of a mixture of liquid and air, comprising a substantially rigid hollow shell open at oneeridto form a discharge opening and having an enlarged chamberbetween the ends of the shell and-a hollow'stem operatively connected to the enlarged chamber and'adapted' at the other end to be detachably attached to aspray-gun; said'nozzle contiguous to the discharge opening adapted to seat a plurality of deformable foraminous discs positioned contiguous to each other to produce a foam from the mixture of liquid and air entering fromthe spray'g'uninto the enlarged chamber; and inweirdly extending securing means cooperating with the discharge openingof the nozzle and adapted fordetachably aiiixing' the deformable discs to the nozzle by deforming the discs as they are seated and unseated within the hollow shell contiguous to the discharge opening.

6. A foam producing 'nozzle for .a' spray gun adapted to discharge a spray .Of a mixture of liquid andair, comprising a rigid hollow shell providing anenlarged chamber open at one end to form a discharge opening anda hollow stem operatively connected to the enlarged chamber and adapted at the other end to be detachably attached. to a spray g'un,'saidj'nozzle'contiguous to the discharge opening adapted to seat a plurality of flexible foraminous discs positioned contiguous to each other to produce a foam from the mixture of liquid and air entering from the spray gun into the enlarged chamber, and securing means for the discs formed contiguous to the discharge opening and including a shoulder to seat the discs, and said securing means also permitting the discs to be sprung into and out of engagement with respect to the discharge opening for the attachment and detachment of the discs to the nozzle by deforming the discs as they are seated and unseated within the hollow shell with respect to the shoulder contiguous to the discharge opening.

7. A foam producing nozzle for a spray gun adapted to produce foam from a spray of a mixture of liquid and air, comprising an enlarged hollow chamber open at one end to form a discharge opening and operatively connected to a smaller opening of the spray gun, said nozzle contiguous to the enlarged discharge opening of the chamber adapted to mount a plurality of flexible foraminous discs positioned contiguous to each other to produce a foam from the mixture of liquid and air discharged from, the spray gun, and securing means for operatively mounting the discs formed contiguous to the enlarged opening of the hollow chamber and extending radially inward and overlying portions of the outermost disc forming a recess to afiix the discs to the nozzle, and saidmeans formed to permit the discs to be sprung into and out of engagement with said recess for attaching and detaching said discs within the nozzle contiguous to the open end of the hollow chamber.

8. A foam producing nozzle for a spray gun adapted to discharge a spray of a mixture of foam producing liquid and air, comprising a hollow shell open at one end to form a discharge opening and having an enlarged chamber between the ends of the shell and adapted at the other end to be detachably attached to a spray gun, said nozzle contiguous to the discharge opening adapted to position one or more deformable ioraminous means to produce a foam from the mixture of foam producing liquid and air entering from the spray gun into the enlarged chamber, and securing means cooperating with the discharge end of the nozzle and adapted for detachably afiixing the deformable foraminous means to the nozzle by deforming said foraminous means as they are seated and unseated within the hollow shell contiguous to the discharge opening.

GEORGE I-I. PALM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,457,895 Campanella June 5, 1923 1,798,730 Dunham Mar. 31, 1931 2,492,037 Freeman Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,815 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1914 

